BRITISH troops were bracing themselves for war after Prime Minister Tony Blair won a vital victory in the Commons on Tuesday night.

As MPs queued to vote, hundreds of anti-war protesters staged a protest outside Parliament. An anti-war amendment was defeated by 396 votes to 217, with 139 Labour MPs rebelling against the government. The main motion was carried by 412 votes to 149 — a majority of 263. In one of his most powerful speeches Tony Blair said he would rather resign than back down. He said: “This is not the time to falter. This is time to show we will stand up for what is right.” By the time the News and Mail hits the stands, Britain will be at war. So how prepared are Surrey emergency services for any attacks on the county? Ashford and St Peter’s is ready to play its part in any NHS response to a chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear attack. A spokesman for Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority said NHS organisations across the counties have been working closely together for some months to ensure they are as prepared as possible to deal with the threat of attacks. However the spokesman stressed they have not been put on any increased state of alert at this stage. She said: “Some months ago, the Department of Health and the NHS established plans to vaccinate small teams of health workers against smallpox as a precaution against any potential outbreak in the UK. “All ambulance trusts including Surrey Ambulance Service and Sussex Ambulance Service were issued with protective suits last year and staff have been trained how to use them effectively. “These suits provide protection for ambulance staff when dealing with incidents which could potentially involve chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear agents. “NHS trusts across Surrey and Sussex have been issued with decontamination tents in order to help them deal with an incident which requires them to decontaminate a large number of people as quickly as possible. “Responsibility for training organisations and staff in using this equipment lies at local level and is co-ordinated by the health emergency planning advisers in Surrey and Sussex.” Communications manager of Ashford and St Peter’s Andy Hollebon said: “We are better prepared today than at any time previously. “Our decontamination room, an integral part of the new A&E department built four years ago, can cope with 20 patients an hour and we have 16 personal protective suits which are functional and effective despite a minor problem with the seal around the feet. We anticipate this will be resolved shortly. “We have received the decontamination tent referred to in a Panorama programme screened on March 16 but filmed on March 4. “In the event of an incident this would be placed outside A&E and can decontaminate up to 100 people an hour. “It must be remembered of course that Ashford and St Peter’s would not be alone in responding to any incident at Heathrow or elsewhere. “The whole range of services provided by the NHS would be involved such as the ambulance service, community and other acute hospitals, public health and NHS Direct.” He said: “We would work closely with Surrey’s emergency planning department and with other emergency services.” Surrey Fire and Rescue’s publicity manager Paul Summerhill said: “The UK Fire Service responded immediately to the events of September 11. “It formed a ‘New Dimension Group’ to ensure the service was trained and equipped to deal with major conventional, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorist incidents of a national scale. “The group will build on the fire service’s proven capacity to deal with major incidents and look at the service to undertake the lead role in managing public mass decontamination after major CBRN incidents and large scale multiple rescues of trapped people.” He said: “Fire services across the country have been responding to these types of incidents for many years and have amassed a great deal of knowledge and expertise in handling these situations. “Guidance was sent to all UK fire brigades in December 2001 outlining interim arrangements for mass decontamination. “Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, like other brigades, has issued these additional items of equipment and although they may seem basic, the sponges, buckets and detergent held across the county will enable firefighters to provide an immediate response to begin the decontamination of hundreds of people following a terrorist attack.” He said: “Additional specialist equipment has been ordered and is due for delivery over the next few months.”

SURREY Stop the War Coalition joined Quakers and Amnesty International activists gathered in Woking Town Square for one hour at 7pm on Sunday to register their solidarity with more than 4,000 peace groups in 122 countries around the world. Ruth Breddal, of Woking Amnesty Group said: “For decades, the people of Iraq have endured the most devastating human rights violations. “Their lives have been ravaged by conflict, a brutally oppressive regime and severe economic sanctions. “The use of military force is now making life even harder for innocent civilians and we demand that the international community, particularly the UK Government, do all it can to protect the lives of Iraqi civilians during this conflict.”